X-Men Hockey announce addition of AHL forward Liam Hawel

ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX men's hockey head coach Brad Peddle is excited to announce the addition of forward Liam Hawel to the 2021-22 roster.

"Liam is an outstanding addition to our program," comments Coach Peddle. "He has decided after a year of pro hockey in the AHL to pursue his education and continue his development at StFX. Liam is a highly skilled right shot power forward with tremendous offensive abilities and hockey sense. He will make an immediate impact to our team and will add both championship and pro experience to our locker room. He is great fit with our group and we look forward to seeing him in blue and white very soon."

A native of Arnprior, Ont., the 6'5", 200-pound forward played seven games with the AHL's Laval Rocket in a reduced 2020-21 season. Prior to that, Hawel played five years in the OHL with Kitchener, Guelph and Soo where he amassed 233 points (87G, 146A) in 313 regular season games. He also tallied 21 points (7G, 14A) in 42 OHL playoff games including an OHL championship victory in 2019 with the Guelph Storm. Liam was a member of the 2016-17 Canadian U18 team that competed at the IIHF U18 World Championships in Slovakia, losing out in the quarterfinals.

A former teammate of current X-Men Joseph Raaymakers and Patty Kyte, Hawel plans to study Business at STFX this fall and notes that he is "super excited to be joining such a great school for both academics and the hockey program. I can't wait to get to town and get started."

He joins previously announced recruits forwards Jacob Hudson (Antigonish, NS), Connor Roberts (Owen Sound, ON), Zack Trott (Honeywood, ON), Cameron Hebert (St. Andrews West, ON) and Matthew Struthers (Milton, ON), along with defenceman Clark Webster (Kelvin Grove, PE).

The X-Men are set to begin pre-season exhibition play when they host Dalhousie on September 17^th. Atlantic University Sport regular season action opens the weekend of October 8-9, 2021.

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